Snippet #3915

Kaylin stopped in the entrance, her eye's glazing over with sadness, she would soon become just another slave. She watched them move about, the people mostly of summer, but every now and then she would catch a glimpse of her own pale color, usually beneath a guard or soldiers uniform. Turning her head sharply, her ears twitched at the noise of running feet and shouting. The commotion came from a set of summer men, running towards her, she assumed to find something of the King's. They screeched to a halt at the sight of her, glancing back and forth between themselves. Great, she thought, Their must be a problem with winter again. She sighed, They still think me a threat, even with my brother. Some of the men ran past them, keeping as much distance as possible between them and her. Reaching up, she helped her brother down off the now fully-grown Sherri. He way light in her strong arms, and she put him gently to the floor. He looked down at her warily, and shook his head, though she ignored his input. Stretching up, she placed a kiss on his cheek, ignoring the rude stairs of the men still behind them.

"Go, the King is expecting us. I will be back later." She smiled a sweet smile, reserved only for her brother, and swung gracefully up onto Sherridan's strong back. She was happy that he turned away without making a fuss or a fool of her. She moved her cat beneath her, without words, her training was inbuilt and would never fail. She steered the beast towards one of the men, almost laughing at his gasps and scurrying. She grabbed his shirt, pulling them all to a stop, ease and grace shifting through their combined bodies.

"I am one of the King's new men, do not look so frightened." She gave him a wide feral look, hoping to make him squeak in terror. "Were is the disturbance?" She asked carefully, pronouncing her words with care, so her ascent didn't throw him. He pointed with a hand off to the left, shivering with fear.

"The Snow Walker, in a town just off the edge of the city." He cried as she dropped him, leaning low to her stead. The air shifted heavily down her back, Sherri moving at a pace far superior to that of a horse. Her feet took them through the city, meeting with many screams; no one had seen such a mighty beast in many years. Soon she bore down on the outer edges of the city, bursting forth into the meadow farmland. Kaylin whooped as Sherri let out a huffing roar, putting on yet more speed, unhindered by the tight streets out here. Her eyes were slits, not able to stand the wind at any more than that. She could smell the sweet crisp air that usually held only within the depth of the Winters realm. Shifting to a slower pace, they cam to an easy lope, entering the small town.

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Orin tried not to glance back at his sister, but he couldn't help himself. He winced at the terror she caused in these fragile people. Still, he could not help but feel happy as they both sped away, the grace they possessed was so enchanting. He walked slowly, moving with more strength and grace than he had ever possessed. The summer aura was like a drug to him, though it did not cure him of his illness, it helped him feel more, human. He was startled at the tap on his shoulder, spinning away from the cobbled courtyard, a blur of yellow and grey stone filling his vision. He twisted out of the other mans reach, he may not have been a warrior, but he had still trained alongside his sister for all these years.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. You must be Orin, though I was told you would be accompanied." The serving man was old, or at least by winter terms, people tended to live longer in the more 'Sivilaised' Sumer kingdom. He was smaller than Orin, reaching only his shoulder, his back was arched like a hook and his skin was weathered and dark. Their was however a sharp intelligence in his eyes, as he looked around for Orin's sister. Nodding he motioned for him to follow and they entered the castle. The man slowly showed him through the large entrance hall, motioning to each room and telling him what it meant. Finally, after what seemed like an endless walk they reached the infirmary. The man opened the door for him, giving a small bow. This made Orin jump.

"No, no, don’t bow to me." He pleaded with the old man, reaching out a hand to straighten him. People had worshiped the ground he walked on all his life, but never had an elder bowed to him, age always coming before race or rank. The man straightened holding onto his arm, a small smile lit his features. The continued past the many beds, full of injured or ill men. Something terrible has happened, he shook at the wounds, wide and gaping, treated by frantic doctors. Their must have been a battle, their was not other way so many could look this bad. He reached out with his healing magic’s, touching each man, woman and child. In his mind he could see which would survive the wounds, many wouldn't. Then he paused looking down into the eyes of one of the children, Why are their children here, children do not go to battle. The sweet little girl of no more than 5 smiled at him, yet another person who would think him a lucky charm in this ward.

"Young Master, you will be kept in the quarters next to the King's, he likes to have all the Spring born around him. You will of course be aloud anywhere in the castle, but not until the doctors have said so. Please follow me." The man tugged on his arm, pulling him along into a different section. Here there were few beds, each with a window and long fabric walls. Finally they came to a separate room and he was sat down, the old man left, in search of doctors.

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Kaylin reached out, feeling for the center of this icy town. Soon she came into view of a Summer woman, the first person she had seen in the deserted streets of this town. Stupid Summer warrior, did she not know of the Snow Walker, he was the most gifted and feared of their race. Still at least she was in time, she slowed, not wanting to startle the woman. An arrow in either Sherri or herself would be a poor show for the King. Moving on ice was doable with Sherri's paws; they were flexible and large enough to keep her balance, as long as they weren’t too foolhardy. They moved past the woman, closer to the Winter Prince, and Kaylin put a hand up. Drawing on her magic she pulled on the summer, acting like a beacon for the spring thaw. The heat on her skin intensified, making her quake, she hated the heat of summer. The ice melted around her, spreading out across the town, in slow cracking and crashing of ice falling. Her eyes were wide; she had chosen to ignore most of her family’s tales about the man, thinking of him as a myth for children. She didn't know how to react to seeing him. She turned her gaze back to the other woman, God I hope she isn't prejudice against Winter, that can only go badly.